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California State Lawmaker In Texas To Convince Tesla Cali Is Best Fit For "Gigafactory"

Much like Gov. Rick Perry’s many trips to California to convince companies to relocate their business to Texas, a California state lawmakers is doing the same here, asking the electric car manufacturer Tesla to build its "gigafactory" in California rather than in Reno or San Antonio.

California state Sen. Ted Gaines, R-Roseville, said he’s not deterred by expert predictions that the electric car company will either build its gigafactory in Reno, Nevada or in San Antonio.  

Gaines is traveling through Texas this week hoping to turn the tables and convince Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk to build the batteries that power their cars in California, where the company’s headquarters is located.

"With Tesla it becomes more personal because the state of California has provided credits, hundreds of millions of dollars in credit to Tesla so they could get off the ground," Gaines said.

Gaines pointed to failed legislation in the Texas that would have allowed Musk to sell his cars here.

"One-third of all Teslas are purchased in California and that’s an interesting contrast to Texas, because currently in Texas you cannot but a Tesla," Gaines said. "And I think that’s something that Tesla Motors should take into consideration if you’re going to land a gigafactory in Texas and you can’t even buy a car in Texas; that’s a problem.” 

Gaines said he’s doing everything he can to compete with Texas and Nevada in hopes the electric car giant will grow it’s business in California. Tesla’s multi-million dollar gigafactory promises to bring with it over 6,500 new jobs. The company is not expecting to make it’s decision until the end of the year.

Ryan started his radio career in 2002 working for Austin’s News Radio KLBJ-AM as a show producer for the station's organic gardening shows. This slowly evolved into a role as the morning show producer and later as the group’s executive producer.